There have been a lot of announcements regarding the 2016 Rock And Roll Rumble lately, from its new home of ONCE Ballroom and Lounge in Somerville, to word that Vanyaland is acting as this year's media sponsor. But tonight on Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood on WZLX 1007. FM, the biggest announcement of them all has arrived -- these are the 24 bands throwing down in the World Series of Boston rock.
Wood, the Rumble's longtime curator, is announcing each band, one by one, tonight on Boston Emissions. As they are revealed, until midnight, we'll update this post with band links and embeds. In the meantime, here's some other pertinent info: The Rumble preliminary week runs April 3 to 9, the semi-finals are April 15 and 16, and the grand finale goes down on Friday, April 22. Individual nightly lineups and groupings will be unveiled next weekend (Sunday, March 13 on Boston Emissions). Rumble "Six Pack" preliminary week passes are on sale now, and ticket info and other Rumble info can be found at WZLX.com.
Featured photo up top of Nemes guitarist Dave Anthony, from last year's Rumble final, by Derek Kouyoumjian for Vanyaland; see the full gallery here.
Let's get down to business... (bands listed in order or reveal)
Midshow update: New Hampshire's Scissorfight named as the special guest band at the 2016 Rumble. "This is my number one wish list Rock And Roll Rumble guest band," says Wood. Scissorfight will perform at the April 22 final.
Johnny Blazes & the Pretty Boys — Boston, Massachusetts
Formed in 2011 by vaudevillian performer Johnny Blazes as a way of bringing the traditionally karaoke or lip-synching art of drag into the realm of live music, Johnny Blazes and The Pretty Boys have been bombing East Coast audiences with their glitter-filled, horn-heavy sound through sassy originals and clever covers. Along with traditional rock club shows, they love to get involved with projects that connect them with their cabaret roots, including being the dance band for the inaugural AlternaTease conference, Sparkletown Productions’ Pretty Little Things, and The Boston Circus Guild’s Cirque of the Dead. Johnny Blazes and The Pretty Boys’ debut album, Soul Vernacular, was released in September 2015 and its track “Cold Clear Light”, was included in the video game Rock Band 4.
